Sore Bubba Crosby delivers in a pinch for 51s

Thursday, April 10, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

Being relegated to a pinch-hitter's role the past two days because of a sore left shoulder hasn't cooled off 51s outfielder Bubba Crosby.

Wednesday night, Crosby launched a two-run homer in the sixth inning -- moments after having his number called -- that trimmed Edmonton's lead to 4-3 at Cashman Field.

Las Vegas tied it in the eighth, when new right fielder Jason Romano singled in Eric Riggs. Then first baseman Larry Barnes tripled in Nick Theodorou with one out in the ninth to win it, 5-4, and improve the 51s to 5-2.

The Trappers dropped to 1-6 before an announced crowd of 1,661.

In his first five games, Crosby hit .550 and slugged at a Ruthian 1.200 clip.

"It's a bad time to rest, to be away from the game," Crosby said of his part-time hitting and no-fielding role. "But you have to play it smart at this time of the year. There are a lot of games to be played, so there's no reason to push it."

He served as the 51s' designated hitter Saturday against Salt Lake. After Sunday afternoon's game, Crosby treated his ailing left shoulder with a large ice pack.

Crosby said he has been bothered by muscle soreness in his shoulder, and Las Vegas manager John Shoemaker attributed that to an inordinate amount, and length, of throws that Crosby has made from right field.

"It's sore from making a lot of throws, and he's played a lot more in left and center in his career," Shoemaker said. "We just want him to rest as a precaution. He's having a lot of success, and a couple days off definitely will help the guy."

Tuesday against Edmonton, Crosby was called upon to pinch-hit in the seventh inning. Las Vegas trailed, 5-2, with runners on first and second and no outs. But Crosby flew out to center, dropping his average to .524.

He pumped his right fist high Wednesday when he rounded first after smacking his second homer of the season.

Earlier Wednesday, Crosby shagged fly balls in center field during batting practice. When it came time to throw a ball or two back to the infield, he took the glove off his right hand and tossed them back underhanded.

He hit .302 during a 107-game stretch at Double-A Jacksonville two seasons ago, the only time he has topped .300 in his five-year career. So he would like to be getting some at-bats while he's seeing the ball so well.

Romano, sent down by the Dodgers when the parent team called up Troy Brohawn Tuesday, arrived in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon and started in right Wednesday night.

Romano made a diving catch to rob Trappers shortstop Anthony Medrano of extra bases.

Shoemaker said the 51s' will monitor Crosby's shoulder and that he will not be rushed back into the lineup.

"We have other outfielders who can play a few positions, so we will rotate them around a bit," Shoemaker said. "We also want to give everyone chances to play out there, because it is so early."

He struck out swinging, against Trappers starter Claudio Vargas, to end the first and third innings, then Edmonton reliever Bryan Hebson retired Ross on a flyout to deep left-center -- with the bases loaded -- to end the fifth.

Ross flew out to center to make the second out of the seventh, with nobody on. He was on deck when Barnes hit his dramatic triple through the right-center gap to end the game.

Trappers manager Dave Huppert instructed his pitchers to intentionally walk Barnes in the third and fifth innings to get to Ross.

The hole in Barr's mouth is as large as a big fielder's glove, and it boasts that the hitter who pokes it through the opening will WIN A CAR! The sign has been there for a couple seasons.

Shoemaker said Wednesday night that any ball passing through the hole is a ground-rule double.

However, he pointed out that there is a board -- difficult to see from the seats -- just behind the opening, and the ball is in play if it smacks that board and bounces back onto the field.

The craziest ruling Shoemaker ever saw took place in 1978, when he played in Lodi. During a spell of wet weather, the grass was slick and one of Shoemaker's teammates hit a high fly to right.

The charging fielder missed the ball, and Shoemaker's teammate raced around the bases as the fielder failed to find the ball -- it had sunk nearly completely into the ground, with only a bit of its surface showing.

Bobby Floyd, now the Mets' Triple-A manager in Norfolk, argued the ruling. Finally, he told the umpire that a home run should leave the yard. So he jarred the ball out of the ground and tossed it over the fence.